North Seas Energy Cooperation calls for EU-level enabling framework for offshore wind

The member countries of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson have called for an enabling framework for offshore wind energy at an EU level.

Ministers from the NSEC countries and the European Commission signed a joint statement at a meeting on 6 July, agreeing that the current barriers hindering accelerated deployment of multinational hybrid offshore wind energy projects in the North Seas, as well as other projects, should be addressed.

The framework would provide guidance for EU Member States on the implementation of cross-border projects, adequate electricity market arrangements, and efficient EU financing.

At the meeting on Monday, Commissioner Kadri Simson underlined the potential role that offshore wind can play in achieving the EU’s climate-neutrality goal for 2050, as well as the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy initiative, foreseen under the European Green Deal, which is scheduled to be published in the autumn.

“Today’s meeting is about putting the European Green Deal into action. Only by stronger cross-border cooperation, such as between the North Seas countries, will we be able to sufficiently scale up renewable energy production and make Europe the first climate neutral continent”, Commissioner Kadri Simson said.

She also highlighted the complementarities between the offshore renewable energy strategy and the strategies for Energy System Integration and hydrogen, which will be adopted by the EU Commission on 8 July.

In the coming months, the NSEC will focus on developing concrete proposals for hybrid projects further, as well as on maritime spatial planning and a long-term vision for the role of offshore renewable energy by 2050, including offshore and onshore grid planning and the role of hydrogen.

The next NSEC Ministerial meeting will take place in December.